Time had stopped.

Time had literally stopped and Haley felt as if everything around her slowed down as she watched the world as she knew it, shatter, piece by aching piece.

This just wasn't possible. Nathan Scott was not sitting in front of her and his relative was not her boss. None of this made sense. A million thoughts ran through her head as she tried her best to process the fact that Nathan was truly sitting right in front of her.

Damn, she must've pissed somebody up there because someone had been screwing with her karmic retribution. This couldn't be happening.

Haley's eyes got wide as she instinctively backed away a few steps, not even hearing Mr. Scott giving her instructions and speaking to Nathan.

He didn't seem to mind it all that much, either Scott that was. Seeing Haley seemed to have no effect on Nathan. It was as if he knew this would happen.

On his face was that same cocky smirk. She hadn't seen that smirk in 6 years. 6 long years.

"Ms. James, I do believe I'm giving you the rest of the day off. Look a little more lively," Mr. Scott said in a monotone as he looked over the papers she had handed to him only moments before.

Haley felt as if every single vessel in her body would burst through her skin at the moment. She was starting to think that wouldn't be such a bad thing. Hell, spontaneous combustion was like heaven compared to being an 'escort' to Nathan Scott.

Needless to say, things didn't end very well.

Haley let out a deep sigh. She could do this. She could deal with her emotional breakdown issues later but right now she had a job. And, this was all it was... a job. She had to handle it like she never met him before in her life because technically she didn't.

She wasn't the weak and easily manipulated, naive little girl anymore, she was Haley James. Strong, powerful, dominant and intimidating.

Fuck Mr. Scott and his mysogynist ideals and screw Nathan Scott and his pride.

She was better then both of them. Smiling fakely, she forced her hand out and said, "Welcome to New York, Mr. Scott."

Nathan simply stared at her and then at her hand, acting as if he would get a disease from simply touching her. He turned his head around back to face his uncle, "Is it absolutely necessary for her to be my escort? I'm old enough to figure this city out on my own."

"You're under my care, Nathan. I will not have you wandering around New York without a guide."

Nathan looked back at Haley with stoney eyes, "I guess she'll do."

Haley bit down on her tongue hard and resisted the urge to lash out at him and wipe the smirk off his face. She merely forced a larger smile as she walked out of the office, chirping, "Just follow me."

As they walked through the office, Haley remained two strides in front of him, refusing to walk in pace with him. She would never sink down to his level. If he didn't want to be amiable, that was fine with her. She would deal with this.

She refused to let Nathan Scott get to her.

--

Haley stabbed at the elevator button, never realizing the irony in her actions as she tapped her foot against the marble floor, her heel making a ticking sound.

Nathan rolled his eyes as he looked at the back of her body. She looked good, he would admit that. But, nothing else. She was nothing to him now. Just a simple play thing for him to mess around with and then throw aside... that was all.

Thankful that the elevator finally arrived, Haley breezed in before she turned around and stabbed at the 'close doors' button. Nathan barely made it through before the doors closed and Haley stood by, arms crossed with a triumphant smile on her face.

"Still childish?"

She scoffed at his rhetorical question. Normally, if she wasn't so restrained, she would question him on his audacity but she was better now. She was above him.

He was the one that was beneath her. Not the other way around.

"So, you're not going to talk to me for the rest of the time?"

Haley rolled her eyes, wishing the elevator would move faster. Why was it that the one time she didn't want to be alone, she was? Man.. someone up there must really not like her.

"Come on, Hales-" Nathan said, his voice sickly sweet.

She whipped around and said coldly though her eyes were filled with fire, "It's Ms. James to you. I am merely your guide, remember," she threw his words back at him, "I'm not your conversation partner so please, excuse me," her voice dripped with sarcasm, "if I'm not more talkative."

"Still bitter, I see."

She scoffed and turned back around.

"You can't ignore me, Haley," he paused, "I mean, Ms. James. For the rest of the day, you'll do as I say."

She faced him, eyes flaming and mouth open, unable to retain her anger any longer, "I'll what?" She demanded.

"You'll do as I say," he repeated simply. "You work for my uncle and therefore, he had power over you and your paycheck. Now, the power is handed over to me, for the afternoon at least. You piss me off, I'll get you fired." He leaned in and said with a smile, "And, I think we both know you need this job."

Haley's jaw tightened as she rolled her hands into fists before she forced out another smile, "Of course, Mr. Scott."

"Call me Nathan."

"I'd rather not."

"I said," his voice was forceful, "Call me Nathan."

"Fine," Haley replied, her voice tinted with annoyance, "Nathan."

--

Haley took a deep breath as she walked outside, the crisp New York air wakening her senses. She closed her eyes for a brief moment as all her problems faded off into the distance. She was home. She was safe. She was relaxed.

She was not stuck between a rock and a hard place because of her idiotic boss and her lack of luck. She turned around and saw Nathan walk up to her.

Oh, wait. Yes, she was.

Sighing, she rolled her eyes and said with a fake smile, "Nathan," she enunciated his name, "If we plan to get anything done today, we might want to move a little faster. New York moves on a quicker pace." Her words were stabbing but subtle. By the look in Nathan's eyes, it seemed he got her point.

"I know, I was in Los Angeles before this."

"Oh, right, lots of sun, beaches, and warm weather," Haley scoffed, "Just like New York."

Nathan reached out and grabbed her elbow tightly, his grip strong but not hurting her. "I know you may not like me but you'd do well to at least respect me. For now, I'm your boss and you don't speak to your boss like that."

Her eyes hardened and lost all humor as she stared into his eyes defiantly. She refused to let him put her down in that manner. She was not some easy to break girl but he was right. He was her boss and she had to respect him, even if she did loathe him. It was just for now. She could handle it, for now.

"I'm sorry," she bit out before she forced herself to loosen the tension in her body, making her seem more relaxed. "It won't happen again," her voice was numb.

"Better," Nathan said with a smirk as he let her go and took a few steps forward, "Now, lead the way."

Haley walked towards the street as tears formed in her eyes, stinging her heart. It wasn't the words that hurt, though they did, it was the tone. She knew before that when she came to New York, she would be nothing compared to all the other experienced workers. But, never before had she ever thought she would be treated with such disrespect, especially coming from Nathan Scott.. someone who she had given her whole heart to before. She stopped herself from travelling back down memory lane. She glanced back at Nathan and realized the truth in their situation.

Whatever they had before and whoever they were before was gone and in the past.

"Taxi," Haley yelled into the street as she raised her arm up high, sniffling as she surpressed her urge to cry. She refused to let him win. She may have to be his perfect little doll for the rest of the day but that didn't mean she had to be completely submissive. She wouldn't let him get the best of her.

He didn't deserve it.

A yellow cab pulled up and she opened the door, gesturing for Nathan to go in, "Sir," she said coldly, purposely not using his name.

"I thought I told you-"

"Nathan," she quickly amended before she slammed the car door shut. Walking to the passenger side of the car, she got in and said to the cabbie, "5th Avenue."

"Miss, you need to-"

Haley turned to him, her face blank, "5th Avenue."

"Of course, miss," he said quickly, knowing better than to argue with a pissed off woman living in New York. It wasn't breaking the law having her sit up in the front and it looked like whoever was sitting in the back wasn't too pleased about her choice of where to sit. Then again, he was just a cabbie and there was no way he wanted to get involved in the tension that was obvious between the two.

"Why are you sitting up there?" Nathan asked, keeping his voice light and disinterested.

"Respect," Haley said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Her eyes got wide and innocent as she said mockingly, "I wouldn't dare sit next to the honorable Nathan Scott. I'm not worthy."

The cabbie pushed down the laugh bubbling inside him as he continued driving.

Nathan merely stared at her in the rearview mirror, his eyes cold. Haley stared back for a few moments as if challenging him before she broke the gaze. It hurt too much.

He was still too much like what he was before but she kept reminding herself that he wasn't.

That person was dead. Nathan Scott was now dead inside.

--